In-Season Dominators

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Reading the Defense: Week 5

A weekly look at IDP trends with a mix of metrics, film study, and matchup strategy

by Jene Bramel, October 4Photo: Kyle Terada, US Presswire

NEWS AND NOTES

The team-by-team notes will return soon. Over the next couple of weeks, I'm working through a mid-season tier update by position.

It was going to happen sooner than later. Two weeks ago, we had the largest run on offensive injuries we'd had in some time. This time last week, news was breaking that J.J. Watt's season was about to end. Ryan Shazier, among others, would join Watt as primary fantasy options to miss extended time. That was painful enough. This week, we've lost NaVorro Bowman, Sean Weatherspoon, Gerald McCoy, and a few others to injured reserve or multiple week injury.

The 49ers don't have anyone to replace Bowman. Michael Wilhoite will move into an every-down role, with Gerald Hodges again competing for extended playing time. Bowman had needed an extra year to recover from a brutal knee injury. He'll have a good chance to recover from the Achilles tear, but he doesn't have as much reserve to lose and still be a special player. The biggest value upgrades come for Wilhoite and Antoine Bethea here.

If you think the 49ers' depth chart is bad, watch out for the mess in Atlanta if Deion Jones is sidelined with a calf injury and DeVondre Campbell (and Paul Worrilow) aren't ready to return. The Falcons signed A.J. Hawk this week. Watch the injury report later in the week for depth chart details here.

Cory James had a huge Week 4 and is locked into an every-down linebacker spot in Oakland with Ben Heeney on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Malcolm Smith also left last week's game with an injury.

The Colts waived Sio Moore from a lackluster group of linebackers. I suspect there's something more than average play here. Regardless, the Colts will still likely rotate D'Qwell Jackson, Josh McNary, and Antonio Morrison. I'm not sure Morrison is the answer here, but he may get a long look as the season progresses and there's plenty of opportunity to come.

Make sure you're reading Aaron Rudnicki's upgrades and downgrades and John Norton's Eyes of the Guru for more details on last week's play. And we'll have more in our Thursday podcast, including lots of matchup and injury discussion after Wednesday's first practice participation report.

POSITIONAL TIERS

We're three weeks into the regular season and getting a much better sense of schemes, depth charts, and player production. There's still time for disappointing players to turn their season around or fairy tale trends to turn back into pumpkins. But that becomes less and less likely after 3-4 weeks of data.

These tiers will not be as extensive as my offseason tiers. During the season, I put players into three categories: Matchup Independent Starters, Matchup Dependent Plays, and Priority Watch List. Dynasty league owners should have an additional category: Stashes you must keep on your roster. In deeper leagues, the matchup dependent list will obviously need to be longer.